Chia Rhubarb Apricot Muffins

Ch-ch-ch-CHIA!
Hey, does anyone remember chia pets, those weird little clay animal figurines that grew fur made out of plants? I wanted one so badly as a kid, but my parents agreed that they didn’t really go with the décor. These days I have a serious love for chia, but instead of enjoying them as a sprout-covered squirrel on my windowsill, I eat the seeds, taking full advantage of the super food that gave this 1980’s terracotta tchotchke its power.

What are Chia seeds?
Aside from their slightly oblong shape, chia seeds look a lot like poppy seeds, being gray or black in colour, and very, very tiny. Unlike poppy seeds however, the inconspicuous chia is a veritable powerhouse of nutrition and a very versatile food to boot. In pre-Columbian times they were a main component of the Aztec and Mayan diets and were the basic survival ration of Aztec warriors. I've read that one tablespoon was believed to sustain an individual for 24 hours. The Aztecs also used chia medicinally to stimulate saliva flow and to relieve joint pain and sore skin.
In more recent years, chia has undergone a sort of renaissance with the increasing interest in health foods throughout North America and Western Europe. In Canada, chia seeds are often sold under the brand name “Salba”. Chia and Salba are essentially the same thing, only Salba is a white seed strain of the same plant.



According to Dr. Andrew Weil, chia is very rich in omega-3 fatty acids, even more so than flax seeds! And it has another advantage over flax: chia is so rich in antioxidants that the seeds don't deteriorate and can be stored for long periods without becoming rancid. And, unlike flax, they do not have to be ground to make their nutrients available to the body. Chia seeds also provide complete protein (perfect for vegetarians!) fiber, as well as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, niacin, and zinc. See? They are like, a total miracle food!

Bringing it all together
The last awesome aspect of this super seed definitely worth mentioning is its binding qualities. By this I mean that when chia comes into contact with liquids it forms a gel, which not only makes a fabulous egg replacer in baked goods, but also it also acts as a binder in your digestive system, making your poop totally fabulous! I even considered naming the title of this post “Fabulous Bowel Movement Muffins”, but my gut told me not to. Ahem. Sorry.
Why should you care about this? Well, if you have diarrhea, constipation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome, chia gel actually helps to regulate symptoms by coating the digestive tract with a mucilaginous goo that soothes irritations, and improves digestion by bulking up stool in a calm and gentle fashion. After munching a few of these muffins, just tell me if you’re not experiencing some very satisfying trips to the John.

* * *

For this recipe I used rhubarb because it’s about the only seasonal fruit we’ve got going on up here in Denmark. If you live somewhere where there is a wider variety of fresh fruit (basically anywhere but here – sorry I’m totally bitter), by all means use what you’re growing in your backyard or what’s available at your local farmer’s market instead.
And just so you know, these muffins are sugar-free so they are not cupcakes in disguise. Don’t expect some super-sweet, dessert-like bomb to come out of your oven! These are healthy, real, whole-food muffins that you will not find at Starbucks (that’s a good thing).

Chia Rhubarb Apricot Muffins
Ingredients:
• 1 ½ cups spelt flour
• ½ cup rolled oats
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3 Tbsp. chia seeds + ¼ cup water
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cup finely chopped rhubarb
• 1/3 cup chopped dried apricots (or raisins, dates, cranberries, cherries, etc.)
• optional nuts, seeds, oats for topping (your choice – walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds etc.)

Directions:
1. Combine chia seeds and water in a glass and set aside for at least 15 minutes.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a muffin pan with liners.
3. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flours, baking powder, baking soda and salt until combined.
4. In another bowl, add the chia seed gel, olive oil, maple syrup, orange juice and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth by hand. Add to the flour mixture and blend just until moistened but lumpy. Stir in the rhubarb and apricots.
5. Spoon the batter into 12 muffin cups, filling each cup about 2/3 full. Sprinkle the topping of your choice onto each muffin and bake until springy to the touch, about 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes, then transfer the muffins to a wire rack to cool completely.

What else can I do with Chia?
Hold on everybody! The chia train doesn’t stop there! You can add these seeds to just about anything you can eat. Sprinkle them on your morning cereal, yogurt, lunchtime salads, blend them up in smoothies, add them to soups, stews – they work with just about everything. One tablespoon a day is all you need to start experiencing the array of the healthy benefits chia has to offer. And to replace one egg in baking, combine one tablespoon of chia with three tablespoons of water.

DIY Birkenstock-free Cleaning Products

I once dated this guy that was such a nutty hippie, that he would clean his house using the leftover liquid pressed out of his homemade tofu. This is what comes to mind when I think about “natural cleaning products”. That, and of course the smell of greasy dreadlocks and rotting soy juice. Thanks for the memories.

I’ve moved on since then, to more hygienic boyfriends and to embracing the idea that you can make environmentally friendly cleaning products that are actually effective. Health food stores are loaded with all kinds of fancy and over-priced concoctions of baking soda and vinegar, so put your wallet away and take a trip to your kitchen cupboard. I guarantee you’ve got the goods to begin your very own cleaning arsenal.

Commercial cleaning products are bad for the environment, but more importantly our health. And since we have no control over the sickotating toxic fumes we are inhaling outside, wouldn’t it be nice to know that air inside our homes is at least somewhat safe? Non-toxic cleaning can give you a deep feeling of gratification in knowing that your family’s health is protected, and that your home is a place for your bodies to rest and recuperate rather than promote harm.

In the photo above you will see everything you need to begin your super-natural cleaning adventure. From left to right: clean jars; lemon; bottle of essential oil of tea tree; baking soda; non-toxic biodegradable liquid soap; white vinegar; recycled, empty spray bottle.

Ingredients:
1. Lemon - one of the strongest food-acids, effective against most household bacteria.
2. Tea Tree Oil – nature’s most powerful anti-bacterial agent. Great for use in the bathroom and kitchen.
3. Baking Soda - cleans, deodorizes, softens water, scours.
4. Soap - unscented soap in liquid form, flakes, powders or bars is biodegradable and will clean just about anything. Sometimes this is called “Universal Cleaner” (pictured) and you can purchase this at health food store. Avoid using soaps, which contain sodium lauryl sulfate, phosphates and petroleum distillates.
5. White Vinegar - cuts grease, removes mildew, odors, some stains and wax

Recipes:
All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax) into 2 liters water. Store and keep. Use for removal of water deposit stains on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome fixtures, windows, bathroom mirrors, etc.

All-Purpose Disinfectant: Mix 2 cups water, a few drops of natural soap, and 15 drops each of tea tree and lavender organic essential oil. You can spray this on all kinds of home surfaces - changing tables, cutting boards, toilets, sinks, walls, and more. Just don’t use this on glass, as it will streak.

Carpet Stains: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on stain, let sit for several minutes, and clean with a brush or sponge using warm soapy water.


Chopping Block Cleaner: Rub a slice of lemon across a chopping block to disinfect the surface. For tougher stains, squeeze some of the lemon juice onto the spot and let sit for 10 minutes, then wipe.

Coffee and Tea Stains: Stains in cups can be removed by applying vinegar to a sponge and wiping. To clean a teakettle or coffee maker, add 2 cups water and ¼ cup vinegar; bring to a boil. Let cool, wipe with a clean cloth and rinse thoroughly with water.

Drain Cleaner: For light drain cleaning, mix ½ cup salt in 4 liters water, heat (but not to a boil) and pour down the drain. For stronger cleaning, pour about ½ cup baking soda down the drain, then ½ cup vinegar. The resulting chemical reaction can break fatty acids down into soap and glycerin, allowing the clog to wash down the drain. After 15 minutes, pour in boiling water to clear residue. Caution: only use this method with metal plumbing. Plastic pipes can melt if excess boiling water is used. Also, do not use this method after trying a commercial drain opener--the vinegar can react with the drain opener to create dangerous fumes.

Lime Deposits: You can reduce lime deposits in your teakettle by putting in ½ cup white vinegar and 2 cups water, and gently boiling for a few minutes. Rinse well with fresh water while kettle is still warm.

Marks on Walls and Painted Surfaces: Many ink spots, pencil, crayon or marker spots can be cleaned from painted surfaces using baking soda applied to a damp sponge. Rub gently, then wipe and rinse.

Mold and Mildew: Mold is extremely harmful to human lungs. Prevention is the key! To prevent mold from ever occurring, mix two cups of water and three drops of pure organic tea tree essential oil. Once a week, spray your walls with this solution (even behind furniture) and wipe dry. This mixture fights stains and the natural antiseptic qualities of tea tree oil fights mold and mildew. To get rid of mold, use white vinegar or lemon juice full strength. Apply with a sponge or scrubby.

Oil and Grease Spots: For small spills on the garage floor, add baking soda and scrub with wet brush.

Oven Cleaner: Moisten oven surfaces with sponge and water. Use ¾ cup baking soda, ¼ cup salt and ¼ cup water to make a thick paste, and spread throughout oven interior. (Avoid bare metal and any openings) Let sit overnight. Remove with spatula and wipe clean. Rub gently with fine steel wool for tough spots.

Pots and Pans: For burned and crusted-on foods, soak or boil a solution of 2 Tbsp baking soda per qt of water in each pan. Let stand until particles are loosened, then wash as usual. Use a mild or moderate abrasive if necessary.

Rust Remover: Sprinkle a little salt on the rust, squeeze a lime over the salt until it is well soaked. Leave the mixture on for 2 - 3 hours. Use leftover rind to scrub residue.

Scouring Powder: For top of stove, refrigerator and other such surfaces that should not be scratched, use baking soda. Apply baking soda directly with a damp sponge.

Stickers on Walls: To remove, sponge vinegar over them several times, and wait 15 minutes, then rub off the stickers. This also works for price tags (stickers) on tools, etc.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Mix ¼ cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar, pour into basin and let it set for a few minutes. Scrub with brush and rinse. A mixture of borax (2 parts) and lemon juice (one part) will also work.

Tub and Tile Cleaner: For simple cleaning, rub in baking soda with a damp sponge and rinse with fresh water. For tougher jobs, wipe surfaces with vinegar first and follow with baking soda as a scouring powder. (Vinegar can break down tile grout, so use sparingly.)

Window Cleaner: Mix 2 teaspoons of white vinegar with 1 liter warm water. Use crumpled newspaper or cotton cloth to clean. Don't clean windows if the sun is on them, or if they are warm, or streaks will show on drying. The All-Purpose Cleaner (above) also works well on windows. Be sure to follow the recipe, because using too strong a solution of vinegar will etch the glass and eventually cloud it.

So, that should be enough to get you started! Isn’t it incredible just how much you can clean with a few basic kitchen items? We’ve all fallen prey to the terrifying television commercials, scaring us into buying caustic and toxic potions. No more! Now you armed with the knowledge to go clean your home your way, with your health in mind. Birkenstocks optional.

Recipes from: eartheasy.com

My New Roots Profile: Sigrid Natural Skin Care

Isn’t it always the way that when you finally decide to go somewhere, you meet the most amazing people right before you leave? Well, this time was no exception. A few weeks before I came to Copenhagen, I met Sigrid Geddes. She is a beautiful, inspiring and accomplished young woman who created her own natural skin care line, appropriately called, Sigrid Natural Skin Care.

Hailing from rural Ontario, Sigrid is inspired by her natural surroundings, creating all natural products made with high quality ingredients from botanical sources. Sigrid even goes so far to wildcraft many of her herbal ingredients. Wildcrafting is the method of collecting plant materials in their natural or “wild” habitat for food, medicinal, or other purposes. This practice shows Sigrid’s respect and care for environment, and her desire to be involved in every step during the creation of her products. The other ingredients, such as beeswax, honey, and hemp oil are also sourced locally from friends and farmers. Incredible!

Sigrid Natural Skin Care began in the summer of 2004, shortly after Sigrid’s personal experience with a homemade herbal salve. A wound in her hand wouldn’t heal with conventional drugstore creams. Frustrated, she decided to try her friend’s homemade comfrey salve. Within a day the swelling went down and the infection ceased. Excited about the efficacy of this homemade product Sigrid asked her friend to teach her how to make it. She immediately fell in love with the experience of crafting natural herbal body products, and thus Sigrid Natural Skin Care was born.

The extensive natural skin care line includes body butters, face creams, healing salves, ointments, lip balm, massage oil, a face mask, an eye elixir, even diaper rash cream for your little one, and a healing balm for your man's hands!

Sigrid constantly strives to keep the health of our earth at the core of product production and decisions relating to the direction of the skin care line. Her goal is to provide quality products with a minimal environmental footprint, holding the belief that less is more and that any consumption of resources has an impact on our planet. She even delivers her products by bicycle or on foot, giving new meaning to the term “personal touch”.

I admire Sigrid’s dedication to using natural, local and organic ingredients, and I identify with her passion for creating products that honor the earth as much as the body. As we all know, cosmetics and personal care products can be loaded with harmful chemicals, dyes and perfumes. Not to mention, they are made by faceless people who put the bottom line before your health. Sigrid employs completely natural processes and uses the most effective, carefully selected ingredients. I have been lucky enough to indulge in Sigrid’s goodies for the past month and absolutely love the results! The body butter and face creams, my personal favorites, are incredibly luxurious. Even though I am away from home, I still feel a little part of me travels back across the pond when I’m using a homegrown creation, made by a friend.

If you are interested in learning more about Sigrid’s Natural Skin Care, and for purchasing information, please visit her website, http://sigridnaturals.com/.

Please Shine Down on Me

I am a sun worshiper. Basking in the hot afternoon rays of summer is by far my guiltiest pleasure, and a joy I am not about to relinquish anytime soon. Yes, I am well aware of the dangers of sun damage, and the potential of cancer, but since making the move to a more holistic and natural lifestyle, I have begun to question whether or not my sunscreen is doing more harm than good.

When the president of the American Academy of Dermatology says, "Sunscreens are an essential weapon in the fight against skin cancer," it’s a daunting undertaking to suggest alternative thinking. It may seem like second nature to you to apply sunscreen before going out in the sun, as the media has been bombarding us with reports of the dangers of the sun for some time now. Sun block has been added to many common skin care products like face and body moisturizer, bug repellent, even makeup! Kids versions have been made and exciting with bright coloured lotions, sprays and fragrances.

But the issue here is whether sunbathing without sunscreen enhances one’s health or undermines it. The overriding mantra of any dermatologist would be that the sun is the main culprit behind skin cancers and malignant melanomas. The incidence of these cancers has risen dramatically in the last two or three decades, in US there are 54,000 cases annually, during which time the use of potent UVB-blocking sunscreens has also skyrocketed. There must be a correlation between these two factors, or at least they are not correlating, leading many scientists to rethink the sun block theory.

How Sunscreen Works
Sunscreen works by combining organic and inorganic active ingredients. Inorganic ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium oxide reflect or scatter ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Organic ingredients like oxybenzone absorb UV radiation, dissipating it as heat.
When purchasing sunscreen, the Sun Protection Factor or SPF measures how effectively the sunscreen formula limits skin exposure to UV-B rays that burn the skin. The higher the SPF the more protection the sunscreen will provide. For example, SPF 15 sunscreen allows a person to stay out in the sun 15 times longer than they could w/o sunscreen, so someone who burns in 10 minutes could be out for 150 minutes w/o burning. SPF does not measure UV-A. If you are looking for UV-A protection, the experts recommend that you purchase a product that has broad-spectrum protection.

3 Reasons Why Sunscreen Isn't Awesome
1.Sunscreen ingredients are powerful free radical generators that increase cellular damage and changes that lead to cancer.
Avobenzone is a powerful free radical generator that is easily absorbed through the epidermis and is still a chemical that absorbs ultraviolet radiation energy. Since it cannot destroy this energy, it has to convert the light energy into chemical energy, which is normally released as free radicals. It is used in sunscreen to block long-wave UVA making a “broad-spectrum” sun block. It does not effectively UVB or short-wave UVA radiation so this ingredient is combined with organic compounds to produce a typical commercial sun block. In sunlight, avobenzone degrades and becomes ineffective within about 1 hour.

2. Sunscreen ingredients can have strong estrogenic activity.
Even worse for your health is the fact that many common free radical generating sunscreen chemicals also have estrogen like-effects. Estrogenic chemicals can mimic hormonal (or real) estrogen, the key female sex hormone. When the body's hormone receptors recognize the estrogenic chemical as estrogen, the result is feminization of the tissue. Such effects can increase cancers, cause birth defects in children, lower sperm counts and penis size in men, diminish libido, plus a plethora of other medical problems. These effects are similar to many banned chemicals such as DDT, Dioxin, and PCBs.

3. Sunscreen Blocks Vitamin D Production
The other major problem with sunscreen, aside from the potential chemical toxicity, is that it blocks your skin’s ability to make vitamin D by more than 95 percent. The major biologic function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, helping to form and maintain strong bones. It promotes bone mineralization in concert with a number of other vitamins, minerals, and hormones. It has also been associated with improvement of the following conditions: diabetes, heart dihttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifsease, arthritis, infertility and PMS, Autoimmune disorders, fatigue, depression and seasonal affective disorder. Regular sun exposure is the best way to obtain the recommended amount of Vitamin D. The best place to get vitamin D is from UV-B from sunlight. For fair-skinned people it only takes about 20 minutes of sun exposure on your hands and face to achieve the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA).

This does not mean that we should all go out and get as much sun as we want. We all must exercise caution and avoiding a burn is key. Sunburn is a sign of serious skin damage and is very different from a tan in terms of health.

Our Prayers Have Been Answered
A friend passed on a website to me that I have become totally addicted to: Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database. You can type in almost any personal care product and it will rate it on a scale from 1 to 10 depending on its toxicity level. The first thing I looked up was sunscreen, as I have had my fair share of burns after a long day on the dock and needed to find a compromise. Badger Sunscreen, a product I had never heard of, registered as a zero, the lowest rating of toxicity, so of course I made a bee line for the health food store to pick up several tubes. Badger is an American company that makes a line of skin care products from all-natural, organic ingredients. I have been performing several “scientific tests” at my cottage over the past few weekends and I can attest that it is totally effective, despite its list of pronounceable ingredients. It also smells amazing thanks to its lavender essential oil. Now, truth be told, natural sun blocks do just that: they block the sun, literally. I have discovered with the SPF 30, the zinc levels are so high, that your skin turns a slight bluish-white tinge unless you rub it in very well. I’d rather look like a mime than a lobster anyway.

You can buy this product on line from the Badger website, or pick up a tube at your local health food store. Keep in mind that because the quality of this product is so high, the price reflects this. The SPF 15 formula retails for about $15 and the SPF 30, about $16. Some things you just can’t put a price on, and for me, there’s no question. A sun block that does more good than harm? Slather it on, and let the sun shine in!

When it Rains, it Pours

I had a really bad week.
Awful, in fact.
A friend passed away, I had to leave my beloved job, and to top it all off, I noticed that my cat’s Alzheimer’s is progressing at an alarming rate (yes, cats can get Alzheimer’s too). My emotions ran the gamut this week, but they were mostly unpleasant. The only high was when my boss threw an end-of-the-year celebration where, admittedly, I “overindulged”, just short of parading around with a lampshade on my head.

When the body undergoes any kind of stress, whether it is physical or emotional, the first vitamin in your body to take the hit, are the B vitamins. Also referred to as the “B complex”, this collective of essential nutrients act as the catalytic spark plugs of the body, needed in every step along the path of food converting to energy. In other words, without them, you’re about as lively as a bag of bricks (which would accurately describe how I felt this morning).

The B complex vitamins are a group of vitamins that include:
* Thiamine (B1)
* Riboflavin (B2)
* Niacin (B3)
* Antithetic acid (B5)
* Pyridoxine (B6)
* Cyanocobalamin (B12)
* Folic acid
* Biotin
Each have their own specific and crucial roles within our bodies, but they function quite well as a group, and often appear together in our foods in the proportions that we need. That is why taking a supplement (which is what I am about to suggest), is less advisable than eating a balanced diet, since they are abundant in whole foods.

But, desperate times call for desperate measures. I have been taking a “stress formula” all week long, just to support my precious little temple of a body until the storm passes. That means, in addition to my healthy diet, I have been taking 50 mg of a B complex with my breakfast. This is a rather safe does for any adult, but you can begin with less and see how you feel. I have friends that notice a great difference with 25 mg and others who go above and beyond. B vitamins are water soluble, which means that you will excrete anything your body does not use in your urine, so there is little risk of overdosing. And on the topic of urine, please be advised that yours will turn neon green or yellow when you take B vitamins, or any good multivitamin containing them. Don’t be alarmed, this is just the extra that your body doesn’t need. Before taking any supplement, absolutely consult an experienced sales associate at your local health food store first.

There are inconclusive studies that have been done about B vitamins and stress, but I have seen positive results in myself and that’s all the proof I need. I also take a B complex during my world adventures to help my body cope with the stresses of traveling, and to give me more energy, which helps tremendously with jet lag. I even know people who have given up coffee thanks to these little capsules of vigor. A miracle? No.
B complex? Yes.

Where else can I get B vitamins?
The B vitamins are abundant in whole foods, but the best sources are whole grains! Ever read the ingredient list on a bag of Wonderbread? If you see the term “enriched” on something, a list of the B vitamins will typically follow, as when grains are refined, they lose all their nutrition and namely, their B vitamins. Manufacturers add them back in after processing, but it is all in vain. Don’t eat Wonderbread. Eat quinoa instead.

B vitamins are also present in (surprise!) fruits and vegetables.

Bonus Material: Hangover Help
The best way to avoid a hangover is not drinking at all. Sorry, I’m a nutritionist - I have to say that.
However, for after those long summer night parties and cottage weekends I would recommend the following:

Before you go to bed (if you can remember) take a 50 mg dose of a good B complex vitamin with as much water as you can handle.
Upon rising, repeat.

There are several reasons we feel so crummy the day after, but most of them have to do with being dehydrated, and the fact that while you’re sleeping, your cells are frantically metabolizing the alcohol that they’re drowning in. Acetaldehyde is a by-product of metabolizing alcohol. Acetaldehyde induces a deficiency of vitamin B1. Thiamin, or Vitamin B1, is so critical to brain and nerve function it is often called the nerve vitamin. The reason you should take a B complex is that, as a collective, they will give you the energy to make it to brunch with your folks. Hey, at least they’re paying.

The Cleanest, Greenest Laundry

Soap that grows on trees...literally?! It’s true my dear friends, and I am so glad to be the bearer of such earth-saving, laundry-loving, chemical-free news. When I first head about soap nuts, I must admit, I was extremely skeptical. How could these little nuts actually clean my clothes? I was convinced in just one wash load of laundry, as my clothes were fresh and clean without any harsh detergents that would otherwise leave dangerous chemicals on my skin! It seems ironic to me that we use such toxic substances to clean our clothes, while they typically end up leaving more damaging chemicals behind.

What is a Soap Nut?
A soap nut is the fruit of the Ritha tree, also known as the Soap Nut tree, or Soapberry tree, indigenous to northern parts of Asia, India and Nepal. For centuries, soap nuts have been used by people in these areas to wash their laundry and finest textiles (wool, silk, cashmere…).
The Soap Nut tree synthesizes its own natural soap-like saponins that coat the outer shell of the fruit. When the fruits ripen and fall from the tree, local families harvest the windfall, and then remove the inner fruit from the outer shell. The soap nut shell is then dried in the sun, using absolutely no chemical processing or manufacturing processes. In fact, the whole process uses no fossil fuels either, (except in the transportation of the product).

How do Soap Nuts work?
Soap nuts release their saponins in hot water, so you must use medium-high water temperatures when washing to ensure that it is liberated into the washtub. Soap nut saponins circulate as a natural surfactant in the wash water, reducing the surface tension of the water and freeing dirt, grime and oils from the clothing. And unlike the harsh chemicals, which are poured down the drain with your waste water, soap nuts produce no harmful residues, are 100% biodegradable and septic safe.

The best part
They are reusable! After each load of laundry, leave your soap nut shells to dry completely and use them once again in your next load. When all the saponins have been released from the outer shell, toss them in the compost heap or green bin to return back to the earth. This makes them incredibly affordable too.

How to use Soap Nuts
Place 4-6 soap nut shells in the small cotton bag that will be provided when you purchase them. If you like your laundry scented, place a few drops of your favorite essential oil directly onto the bag before placing in the washing machine.

Soap nuts are especially recommended for babies and people who suffer from any kind of skin sensitivities or allergies. In addition, the soap nut saponins naturally exhibit antibacterial and antifungal properties.


What else can I do with Soap Nuts?
Soap nuts have even more uses than just laundry detergent. A “soap nut solution” can be made from the leftover shells to be used as hair shampoo, pet shampoo, all purpose-cleaner and even dish soap! Wowee. I have yet to try washing my hair with this solution, but I will give a full and honest report once I’ve really gone to the dark side. I did wash my hair with the leftover liquid from making tofu once, so it’s really not that much of a stretch. This, by the way, is a very ineffective cleaner, but great for repelling bad dates. I’ll try the soap nuts (check out the directions below).

How to make Soap Nuts Solution
In a small/medium cooking pot with a lid, add some water, and cook a small handful of soap nuts for about five minutes. Cover the pot with a lid while cooking. After five minutes, remove the pot from heat and let cool. Remove the soap nut shells, and place in the compost.

* By increasing the amount of soap nuts when making the solution, you can make the solution stronger, and adding more water will make it weaker.

Something Stinks

Fragrances seem harmless enough right? They are, after all, just “smell”. Well, I hate to burst your vanilla-scented (which is actually ‘pyperonal,’ originally created to be a lice killer) bubble, but you know that if I’m writing about it, it’s probably bad. Believe it or not, fragrances are some of the most dangerous products on the market today. Not just perfume, but anything with a scent can have serious negative effects on numerous parts of the body, both inside and out.

It is against the law to sell any commercial product without an ingredient list that catalogs all of the elements inside. But, while the label might simply say a product contains "fragrance," that innocuous catchall can mean that there are over six hundred additional synthetic petrochemicals.

Manufacturers are not required to list the specific chemicals in their fragrances because they've convinced legislators and government agencies that these ingredients are trade secrets. Of the 5,000 different chemicals used in fragrance products, less than 20% have been tested and reported as toxic. The federal government regulates many of those chemicals that have been tested as hazardous materials. The remaining chemicals have not been toxicity tested, so the health effects and regulatory potential are unknown.

Studies show that fragrance chemicals can cause health effects, primarily at the skin, lungs and brain. Many studies have been conducted to show that fragrance products can cause skin sensitivity, rashes, and dermatitis. In fact, skin sensitivity is one of the best-known side effects of fragrances.

A number of studies have been conducted to show how fragrance affects the brain as well. Because of the strong connection between scent and memory, we know that fragrance products can cross the blood brain barrier. This is important because it means that fragrance chemicals have the potential to affect, and possibly damage, brain tissue. This kind of effect is called 'neurotoxicity.' For example, Linalool, the most abundant chemical in perfume and fragrance products, is known to cause lethargy, depression, and life threatening respiratory effects.

Fragrance chemicals can enter the body through inhalation and ingestion through the nose and mouth, and absorption through the skin. Once in the body they are absorbed into the bloodstream and transported throughout the body. Individual sensitivity to the effects of fragrance chemicals varies widely from no effect at all to severe symptoms.

Symptoms experienced by some people include: headache (migraine especially), sneezing, watery eyes, sinus problems, anxiety, nausea, wheezing (especially in asthmatics), shortness of breath, inability to concentrate, brain-fog, dizziness, convulsions, sore throat, cough, chest tightness, hyperactivity (especially in children), tremor, fatigue, lethargy, and drowsiness.

Children are even more susceptible than adults to the effects of fragrance chemicals, yet fragrances are added to nearly every baby product on the market. A parent who wears perfume or uses scented products may well be poisoning the air their children breathe. Exposure to fragrances may result in the child having difficulty concentrating, learning disabilities, hyperactive behavior, and even growth retardation and seizures in extreme cases.

Even though there are outward symptoms that can be evident, there may also be symptoms that we cannot see. We know that many chemicals can cause birth defects (both subtle, like learning disabilities, and overt, like limb deformities) or make changes in DNA, but it is often difficult, if not impossible, to link those effects to a given exposure.

If you really insist on wearing fragrances, choose wisely. There are many natural perfumes out there; you just can’t buy them from an overly made-up, lab coat clad lady in a department store waiting to take advantage of your naïve nose.

Try essential oils, simply the "oil of" the plant material from which they were extracted, such as lavender, rose, eucalyptus, or sandalwood (just to name a few). Since essential oil is typically extracted by distillation, you are only buying a natural component of the plant itself. The scent is pure, deep, long lasting, and they often have many health-promoting effects – just consider aromatherapy!

You can also buy perfume oil, which is essential oil typically cut with jojoba oil (a shrub native to the American southwest), since it is colourless and odorless. The vial pictured above is rose oil, my absolute undoing! I bought this in Marrakech since they are known for their high-quality oils, but you can purchase perfume and essential oils at most health food stores. Just ask someone for assistance as each brand ranges a great deal in quality and price.

Solid perfume is another great option. The strange looking object beside the bottle is just that – essential oil combined with beeswax, and we all know the benefits of that glorious substance! You will often find solid perfume in a small container of sorts, but this one (also purchased in Morocco) was a rare find. Solid perfume is almost like lip balm, except that you rub in into your pulse points: wrists, neck, behind the ear, base of the throat, temples. This is where the blood vessels are closest to the skin giving off more heat and acting like mini fragrance pumps.

The effects of many fragrance chemicals on health are still largely unknown. The fact that different fragrances cause different symptoms (or no symptoms at all) may indicate that some chemicals are more toxic than others. But until all chemicals have been tested, we can't know which products are harmful, and which are not. Until the time that all chemicals have been tested and the harmful one removed from production processes, it is prudent to avoid fragranced products as much as possible. Afterall, you shouldn’t have to cause asthma attacks and alter your DNA just to smell a little sweeter!

Source: Sweet Poison: What your nose won’t tell you about the dangers of perfume

Rub a Dub Dub

This week’s product is a real favorite of mine. It’s made by “Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps”, a family company that has been making suds for over 150 years. Don’t be fooled by the crazy label printed with tiny, fanatical messages that read like the ramblings of a paranoid Old Testament. That’s just Dr. Bronner’s “Moral ABC” that I don’t think anyone quite understands, but very entertaining when you’re bored in the bath…

This soap is made of a combination of organic extra virgin coconut, olive, jojoba and hemp oils, together with pure essential oils. Available in bar or liquid form, it cleans effectively without being aggressive and produces a velvety-lather that leaves the skin silky-smooth and refreshed. My favorite scent is peppermint, but there is a variety to suit all tastes: lavender, citrus, tea tree, almond, rose, and eucalyptus. All versions are biodegradable and vegetable-based, which means lake bathing in the summer months (a favorite pastime of mine!). They are packaged in 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) cylinder bottles and paper labels and best of all, they contain no synthetic foaming agents, thickeners or preservatives!

One of the most objectionable things you’re trying to avoid when buying drug-store soap is called sodium lauryl sulfate, or SLS. This inexpensive detergent is commonly used in cosmetic cleansers, hair shampoos, bath and shower gels, bubble baths, etc. It is probably the most dangerous ingredient used in skin and hair-care products. In the cleaning industry SLS is used in garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers, car-wash soaps, etc. It is very corrosive and readily attacks greasy surfaces.

Sodium lauryl sulfate is used throughout the world for clinical testing as a primary skin irritant. Laboratories use it to irritate skin on test animals and humans so that they may then test healing agents to see how effective they are on the irritated skin.

A study at the University of Georgia Medical College indicated that SLS penetrated into the eyes as well as brain, heart, liver, etc., and showed long-term retention in the tissues. The study also indicated that SLS penetrated young children's eyes and prevented them from developing properly and caused cataracts to develop in adults.

SLS cleans by corrosion. It dries the skin by stripping the protective lipids from the surface so it can't effectively regulate moisture.

Another extremely serious problem is the connection of SLS with nitrate contamination. SLS reacts with many types of ingredients used in skin products and forms nitrosamines (nitrates). Nitrates are potential cancer-causing carcinogens.

Because of the alarming penetrating power of SLS, large amounts of these known carcinogens are absorbed through the skin into the body. A variation of SLS is SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate- SLES). It exhibits many of the same characteristics and is a higher-foaming variation of SLS.

Look for SLS in these products and find alternatives!
Soaps
Shampoos
Bubble-baths
Toothpaste
Washing-up liquid / dish soap
Laundry detergent
Children’s soaps / shampoos
Body wash
Shave cream
Mascara
Mouthwash
Skin cleanser
Moisture lotion / Moisturizer
Sun Cream

Do not believe that just because a product is labeled as "natural" it is free from SLS or sodium laureth sulfate. Most common brands of "Natural" or "Herbal" shampoos and cleansers still use these harmful chemicals as their main active ingredient - check your labels.

I'd also like to share this video about Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap company's recent effort to get all of the olive oil they use in their soaps from organic & fair trade sources.


information resource: http://www.healthy-communications.com/slsmostdangerousirritant.html

So Fresh and So Clean

I use as few “products” as possible, simply because I want to avoid putting chemicals in and on my body. But toothpaste is one of those things you just gotta use if you want to have any kind of social life. The problem with toothpaste today is that it’s filled with all kinds of gunk. Foaming agents, flavorings, dyes and toxic chemicals, such as fluoride, contaminate the pastes and gels that we put in our mouths to get them clean – seems rather counterintuitive, doesn’t it?

For this post I wanted to focus solely on fluoride, since many non-fluoride toothpastes are entering the mainstream market, and it’s time we are all educated on what this chemical actually is.

Fluoride is a by-product of the aluminum manufacturing process, and is produced in rather large quantities. The attempt to market it as a health-improving product began in the mid-20th century, and it was promoted to the American Dental Association because it is said to “prevent tooth decay”. More recently, other studies attempting to document the effectiveness of fluoride have been conducted. Dr. John Yiamouyiannis examined the raw data from a large study that was conducted by the National Institute for Dental Research (NIDR). He concluded that fluoride did not appear to have any decay preventing success, as there was little difference in the DMFT values (the mean number of decayed, missing or filled teeth) for approximately 40,000 children. It did not matter whether they grew up in fluoridated, non-fluoridated or partially fluoridated communities. (Yiamouyiannis, J.A. "Water Fluoridation and Tooth Decay: Results from the 1986-87 National Survey of U.S. Schoolchildren", Fluoride, 23, 55-67, 1990).

Aside from toothpaste and mouthwash, fluoride can also be found in much of the water supply in North America. In excess fluoride can produce a condition called fluorosis. This condition is characterized by the failure of tooth enamel to crystallize properly in permanent teeth. The effects range from chalky, opaque blotching of teeth to severe, rust-colored stains, surface pitting and tooth brittleness. Bony changes, characterized by osteosclerosis, exostoses of the spine, and genu valgum, usually are seen only after prolonged high intake of fluoride in adults. These changes occur due to the fact that fluoride is not biodegradable and it accumulates in the body and bones resulting in a toxic or poisoning effect.

It is questionable as to whether or not fluoride should be added to toothpaste at all, but it is for certain that toothpaste containing fluoride should never be swallowed. There is enough fluoride in a tube of fluoridated toothpaste to kill two children. Since 1997 the American Dental Association has reqired all toothpastes containing fluoride to print a warning label on their packaging. That is enough to scare me off.

I have been using non-fluoridated toothpaste for nearly 5 years and there has been no change in my teeth whatsoever (much to the chagrin of my dentist). I have tried many natural types of toothpaste, but Jason makes the one I love the most and it’s called “Sea Fresh”. The ingredients in this product are top notch, and the taste (from spearmint leaf oil and parsley) is so fresh and so clean! The biologically active blue-green algae, sea salts and minerals help heal detoxify and strengthen gums and teeth, while the perilla seed extracts neutralize bacteria and sugar acids. Sea Fresh even contains three natural whitening polishers: bamboo powder, calcium carbonate and silica. Many of the ingredients are certified organic and this product is never tested on animals. What more can you ask for?

I came across a fascinating video, The Fluoride Deception, while I was researching for this post. It’s a little lengthy but incredibly eye opening, as it exposes the lies we’ve been fed about fluoride our whole lives.



Please remember that I am not being compensated in any way to endorse these products. I just want to spread the word…

The Bees Knees

I thought I would start off this month’s exposé of personal care products by answering one of the questions I am most frequently asked: “what is the best natural deodorant?” I guess people trust that I know what I am talking about (and I do), but when it comes to natural products, there is never one solution that suits everyone. Since every body is different, we each have our own unique chemistry that reacts, or fails to react with what we put in our bodies and on our skin.

First, let me explain the difference between deodorants and antiperspirants. Antiperspirants work by clogging, closing, or blocking the pores with powerful astringents such as aluminum salts so that they can’t release sweat. In recent years, the aluminum in antiperspirants has come under scrutiny because of its possible link to Alzheimer’s disease and breast cancer. Deodorants on the other hand, work by neutralizing the smell of the sweat and by antiseptic action against bacteria. Deodorants are preferable because they don’t interfere with sweating, which is a natural cleansing process necessary to release toxins and also cool the body.

Besides aluminum, regular deodorants and antiperspirants contain other undesirable ingredients that we can simply do without. One ingredient is called Propylene Glycol and it is one of the most common humectants (chemical agents that prevent products from drying out). It is used in many other cosmetic products including most shampoos and conditioners, some soaps, liquid foundation, baby lotions, suntan lotions, emollients or moisturizers and lipsticks. Propylene Glycol has been linked with health problems such as contact dermatitis, autotoxicity, kidney damage and liver abnormalities. It was originally developed for use in industry as an anti-freeze, brake fluid, airplane de-icer among other applications. Despite its possible carcinogenic properties, it's been used in the cosmetics for over 30 years.

That being said, I have been using Burt’s Bees Herbal Deodorant for 3 or 4 years with great success. I have also recommended this product to many friends that swear by it. The liquid, which comes is a spray bottle, contains an essential oil blend of Sage, Lemon and Lavender minimizes and neutralizes odors naturally. Sage is a natural antioxidant, the leaves of which are used for their tonic, astringent and soothing properties. It has a spicy, herbal scent, which some people do not like, however, the smell disappears once it dries. And when the bottle is empty, I re-use it to hold my own personal after-shower spritzer (pictured above). I mix lavender and sandalwood essential oils with a little water, which has a relaxing affect on the senses. This makes a really nice gift too!

Remember that our skin is less of a suit of armor, and more of a sponge that absorbs up to 70% of what we apply to it (just think about the nicotine and hormone patch). Since we are already exposed to a plethora of chemicals through the air we breathe and the food we eat, we may as well try to reduce our exposure by using the purest products possible.

You should also remember that a natural deodorant that works for your best friend might not work for you. Don’ give up! Try a few brands and varieties to see which one you prefer. Your local health food store will offer the widest selection. Here’s to sweet smelling and brake fluid-free armpits!